France summons Israeli envoy over warning shots

PARIS (AFP) - France on Wednesday summoned Israel's Ambassador after Israeli troops fired warning shots as European diplomats were blocked at a Gaza border crossing. Israeli troops halted a diplomatic convoy carrying France's Consul-General at the Erez crossing on Tuesday and held it for six hours as it tried to leave the Gaza Strip and return to Jerusalem, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. "The convoy, which included other European diplomats, was subject to two warning shots from Israeli soldiers," spokesman Eric Chevallier told reporters. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner summoned Israeli Ambassador Daniel Shek "to protest this unacceptable incident and demand an explanation," he said. In Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yossi Levy said all border crossings were closed for several hours on Tuesday after an Israeli army patrol was targeted in a bomb attack that left one soldier dead. "This measure was not specifically aimed against the French Consul-General," said Levy.

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